Dave Rashkin, who dispensed everything from calamine lotion to egg creams at his Rashkin's Pharmacy in Woodridge, died Saturday. Rashkin, who also helped transform the three waterfalls on his land in Mountaindale into the "Niagara of Sullivan County," was 98.

Art Peck, who turned a broken-down grocery store in Narrowsburg into what may be the largest mom-and-pop chain of supermarkets in the mid-Hudson — Peck's Markets — died last Monday. Peck, who also meticulously handcrafted boats and clocks, was 82.

These men weren't "just" pioneers of their respective ends of Sullivan — Rashkin on the east, Peck on the west.

They were men who helped build their worlds.

Rashkin — "Dave" to those who knew him — grew up working in one of the pioneering resorts of Sullivan, Rashkin's Little Falls Hotel and Country Club in Mountaindale, where he would create the renowned water falls known as Tomsco. He kept the tradition of "the mountains" alive at yearly "snowbird" reunions in Florida.

Peck — "Art" to those who knew him — grew up so poor, he had to cover the holes in his shoes with waxed cardboard. Yet, he and his wife, Beth, donated $340,000 to build a library for the western Sullivan County towns of Tusten and Cochecton. He also sold his stores to his employees.

Dave Rashkin and Art Peck.

Special men who made their slices of Sullivan special.

Steve Israel

Sullivan County Treasurer Ira Cohen is willing to have his staff work side by side with Monticello officials to implement recommendations contained in a scathing state Comptroller's Office report on village finances.

A draft audit concluded Monticello suffered from cash-flow problems and shoddy record keeping, and was at risk of fraud.

Monticello received insufficient funds notices for more than $147,000 for its bank accounts and did not collect more than $40,000 in payments for property taxes, utilities and penalties, the state said.

Another $125,594 in payments could not be traced to accounting records, and Monticello's list of tax-delinquent properties included some foreclosed on and sold by the county, the report said.

Cohen sent a letter to the state offering to aid Monticello. The state said it would facilitate a meeting, Cohen said.

"Hopefully, with the comptroller's involvement, we'll be able to help the village and get something done," he said.